Jesus Christ taught many truths about how we can become His disciples. This lesson can help you identify ways to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ.
Spiritual gifts. The Lord has blessed you with spiritual gifts and abilities to touch the lives of the students in your class. Strive to discover, develop, and magnify your spiritual gifts in order to serve the Lord and bless the lives of others. For more information on spiritual gifts, see Moroni 10:8–19 ; Doctrine and Covenants 46:8–26 ; 1 Corinthians 12:1–11 .
Student preparation: Invite students to think of ways they are trying to follow Jesus Christ.
Possible Learning Activities
Consider starting class by asking a student to lead the class in a variety of exercises or simple activities. Afterwards, invite students to share what made it easy or difficult to follow the leader.
Becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ
Throughout His ministry, Jesus Christ invited people to follow Him and become His disciples. A disciple is someone who has been baptized, follows Jesus Christ, and strives to live according to His teachings. In Luke 9, we read about various principles that, if followed, can help us become Jesus Christ’s disciple.
Considering what you know about Jesus Christ, why would it be worth great effort to become His disciple?
Provide the following handout to students, and invite them to work on one of the exercises individually, or the class could be divided into groups and assigned one of the exercises.
Each of the following three sections focuses on one of the Savior’s teachings. These can help you as you strive to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Read through the sections, and select one or more to complete. Invite the Holy Ghost to give personal revelation of ways you can apply what you learn in your life.
Take up your cross
Read Luke 9:23, looking for the Savior’s requirements to be His disciple.
What does this verse teach about being a true disciple of Jesus Christ?
This verse alludes to the physical cross Jesus Christ carried and suffered upon in order to fulfill His Father’s will. Although we are not asked to carry a physical cross like the Lord did, we are asked to follow Him by fulfilling Heavenly Father’s will for us even when it is difficult.
Read Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 16:26 (in Matthew 16:24, footnote e), and look for what it means for us to take up our cross and follow Jesus Christ.
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained what it means to take up our cross. You may want to watch the video “Take Up Our Cross” from time code 3:08 to 3:49, available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, or read the text below.
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Elder Ulisses Soares
We learn through the scriptures that those who wish to take their cross upon themselves love Jesus Christ in such a way that they deny themselves of all ungodliness and of every worldly lust and keep His commandments.
Our determination to cast off all that is contrary to God’s will and to sacrifice all we are asked to give and to strive to follow His teachings will help us to endure in the path of Jesus Christ’s gospel—even in the face of tribulation, the weakness of our souls, or the social pressure and worldly philosophies that oppose His teachings.
(Ulisses Soares, “Take Up Our Cross,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 113–14)
Ponder the following questions:
Why do you need to deny yourself of any ungodliness or worldly lusts in your life?
In what ways can denying yourself of ungodliness or worldly lusts be like carrying a cross?
How do you think “taking up your cross” can help you be a true disciple of Jesus Christ?
Lose your life to save it
Read Luke 9:24–25, looking for what the Lord taught about being His disciple.
What do these verses teach about being a true disciple of Jesus Christ?
In what ways do you think people who focus on their own will and selfish desires will eventually “lose” their lives?
What do you think it means that you will save your life if you lose it for Jesus Christ?
President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018) explained what it means to lose our lives for Jesus Christ:
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President Thomas S. Monson
Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and figuratively lose their lives, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish—and in effect save their lives.
Who do you know who has chosen to lose his or her life for the sake of Jesus Christ? What effect has this decision had on this person?
In what ways are you blessed because Jesus Christ lived the teachings in these verses?
Overcome distractions and excuses
Read Luke 9:57–62, looking for what certain individuals desired to do before following the Savior.
What do these verses teach about being a true disciple of Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ did not indicate that it is wrong to mourn a loved one’s death or to say goodbye to friends and family. Instead, He was teaching them an important lesson about the cost of discipleship. President Howard W. Hunter (1907–1995) explained the analogy of the plow in Luke 9:62.
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Howard W. Hunter
To dig a straight furrow [or trench], the plowman needs to keep his eyes on a fixed point ahead of him. That keeps him on a true course. If, however, he happens to look back to see where he has been, his chances of straying are increased. The results are crooked and irregular furrows. … If our energies are focused not behind us but ahead of us—on eternal life and the joy of salvation—we assuredly will obtain it.
What are common reasons that people today might give for choosing not to follow the Lord?
How can you stay focused on what the Savior has asked you to do now and in your future?
After students complete the exercises, invite a few students to report on what they studied. One way to do this is to write To be a true disciple of Jesus Christ we can … on the board and invite students to complete the phrase.
My next step
Invite students to come up with a plan to help them in their efforts to be disciples of Jesus Christ. Consider inviting students to illustrate their plans. The following could be drawn on the board as one example of how they might do this.
Draw a staircase with at least three steps. Write Jesus Christ at the top of the steps. Create a representation of yourself at the bottom of the steps.
Seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost as you think about your efforts to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and how you can better follow Him. Remember that the Holy Ghost can put thoughts in your mind and feelings in your heart as you ponder (see Doctrine and Covenants 8:2–3).
List possible steps you might take to help you as you strive to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. You could select those that you feel like the Lord would have you take, or label the steps in the order you want to try them.
What is the next step you can take in your efforts to be a more faithful disciple of Jesus Christ?
What do you imagine progress will look like when you take this step?
In what ways do you think the Savior can help you as you take this and future steps?
Testify of the love of Jesus Christ and His willingness to help us as we strive to be His disciples.
Commentary and Background Information
Luke 9:24. What does it mean to lose your life in order to save it?
Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:
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Elder D. Todd Christofferson
The more I think about it, the more amazed I am at how consistently Jesus gave His life to the Father, how perfectly He lost His life in the will of the Father—in life and in death. …
Christ’s commandment to follow Him is a commandment to … lose our life in favor of the real life, the authentic life, the celestial kingdom-enabled life that God envisions for each of us.
(D. Todd Christofferson, “Finding Your Life,” Liahona, March 2016, 18)
Supplemental Learning Activity
Civility and kindness
There are many who turn to contention and hostility when they feel others mistreat them. Even James and John were upset when people in a Samaritan village rejected the Savior. Read Luke 9:51–56, looking for Jesus Christ’s message to those who are mistreated by others. How would the world be different if we all followed the Savior’s example from this account?
